Peppol eInvoicing in a nutshell
Peppol eInvoicing is the direct exchange of standardised, structured invoice data between buyers’ and suppliers’ software via a network of certified service providers.
eInvoicing eliminates the need for emails with PDF attachments, making transactions more efficient, accurate, and secure.
eInvoicing is available to businesses of all sizes and, with a one-time setup, they can send and receive eInvoices with any participant on the Peppol network.
Peppol eInvoicing – part of a global network
Peppol is a globally recognised standard for sending eInvoices and other procure-to-pay documents (such as catalogue, purchase order, and invoice response). The Peppol network, document specifications, and multilateral agreements make global business processes interoperable by standardising the way information is structured and exchanged.
In simple terms, Peppol enables an open, interoperable environment by providing a common framework and protocol for businesses and governments to exchange business documents using their existing software.
Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and other countries in our region have all adopted Peppol to standardise public procurement and business-to-business transactions. Peppol is an open network that connects many platforms and products, is well-established, and is used in more than 40 countries worldwide by millions of business and government entities.
Peppol eInvoicing in Australia
In Australia, there are well over 100 Commonwealth government agencies, hundreds of state government agencies and a growing number of local governments enabled for eInvoicing. The Government is committed to Peppol and has mandated its use in government procurement.
This ongoing commitment supports the vision of eInvoicing as enduring economic infrastructure that will:
- help grow Australia’s digital economy
- transform how Australian businesses do business, and
- help unlock greater opportunities for small and medium enterprise (SMEs).
During 2025, the number of Australian businesses registered on the network surpassed 400,000, reflecting growing momentum across both the public and private sectors. The more businesses that join the network, the greater the benefits for the participants and the economy.
The Australian Peppol Authority
The Peppol framework is managed by OpenPeppol, an international not-for-profit.
OpenPeppol gives authority to the relevant countries to manage the Peppol framework for its members. In Australia, ATO has been established by the government as the Peppol Authority.
In this role, we:
- define Australian requirements for the use of the Peppol standards – for example, invoice specifications to support GST tax invoices
- administer accreditation of access points for Australia
- educate, promote and support the adoption of Peppol standards across governments and the business community
- work with the digital service provider and business communities to ensure the Peppol framework is suitable and implemented consistently across Australia.
In this role we don't receive a copy of the eInvoice and are not able to view the contents of any eInvoices transmitted between entities.
eInvoicing is being implemented in Australia as a productivity measure and is not used for tax compliance.
The Peppol network
To use eInvoicing, your business and your trading partners need to connect to the Peppol network.
Each buyer and supplier connects their system (such as billing, accounts payable automation, accounting, or ERP) to the network via a Peppol access point.
Access points are service providers who act as gatekeepers for data transmitted through the network. They facilitate the exchange of invoice information between the buyer and supplier, ensuring secure transmission and data integrity. Conceptually, the exchange of data is based on the Peppol 4-corner model.
|
Term |
Definition |
|---|---|
|
Peppol Directory |
The Peppol network address register of all entities registered to receive Peppol eInvoices and other documents. |
|
Peppol access point |
Service providers who provide access to the Peppol network. Access points are certified by each country’s Peppol Authority under agreements overseen by OpenPeppol – see https://peppol.org/peppol-interoperability-framework/External Link |
|
4-corner model |
Refers to an operating model where companies and public sector organisations can choose their own access points (service providers). Together, Peppol service providers form a messaging service and network. |
Peppol and electronic data interchange
Businesses have exchanged electronic documents such as invoices for decades through different channels, including:
- electronic data interchange (EDI)
- data entry portals
- data file transfers.
These systems are efficient and streamline the buying process, but they aren't universal and are usually proprietary. This means suppliers must connect to multiple systems used by different buyers, creating inefficiencies, cost burdens, and trading barriers.
The Peppol framework complements EDI and other channels as a common standard for exchanging digital business documents. This helps businesses who transact with trading partners through multiple EDI networks to avoid multiple connections and high costs.
The calculations in this assessment combine EDI and future Peppol invoice volumes as they both support the exchange of structured data, enable processing automation, and offer greater security than email. However, Peppol is a contemporary and more cost-effective channel than EDI.
Benefits of Peppol eInvoicing
Key benefits of Peppol eInvoicing include:
- improved cyber security by reducing use of email as the delivery channel and the risk of fake or compromised invoices
- improved efficiency through the removal of manual processes and follow up
- aiding faster payments as invoices are accurate, delivered to the correct destination, and can be processed faster through automation
- improved ability to achieve environmental, social, and governance objectives.
In addition, eInvoicing may help businesses subject to the payment times reporting scheme to report their payment times more easily and accurately for small business suppliers by providing clarity on ‘when the clock starts’ on invoice payment times.
For more information see Benefits of eInvoicing or read eInvoicing case studies.